Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-08-03
Excursion to the white sulphur.
Reported for the SPEcTAToR.l

their living freight, moving from tne lon
platform in from of the Hale House, wer
handed over foe safe keeping to the care of on
faithful Engineer, Capt. Chalkley, and Henri.
E. Summerson, Esq, Conductor pro tenn. - ,.s
1.-THE engine-passenger No 49, OF the regula
line a noble fellow, tugged heavily away will
his immense load, gradually ascending, ant
going safely over the heavy grade just beyond
La Grange, sweeping down and up to Swoopes
| where a crowd stood waiting, many OF whom
stepping on board, swelled the number which
started from Staunton, and still further packed
the aisles within, and the platforms and stair
ways without, of every one of the coaches
Quickly leaving our first landing place. we be
gan to climb the Eastern slope Of North Noun
tain, leading through Buffalo Gap, which Ii
one of the heaviest grades on the road. Righ
man fully did our noble steed acquit himself
toiling up the ascent, step by step, until neal
the top, or dividing line, when his lessenint
speed plainly told us, that there is a limit ever
to the proudest workmanship of man. Jus
before reaching the highest point, the engine
stopped, simply from sheer exhauston-for {
moment disappointment was seen in every
face. Hardly however, had the exhausted en-
gine's strength gave out, when the shrill shrieh
| of another, reverberated from the towering
nights above, and the yawning depths be-
meath, which was Immediately answered by
one loud and long shout from the passengers
| within and without the standing train.
| Coupled to the rear car, the united forces O.
| the two engines sent us handsomely over the
hill top, and almost whiZzing down the long
descent on the other side of the mountain, te
Variety Springs. What lesson for us, te
bring timely succor to some poor fellow, when
hard pressed, toiling up the stern sleeps, the
| inevitable activities of life.
! Starting again with.fresh courage, we drew
up for a moment at Elizabeth Furnace-put.
| ing on steam-we hurried by Pond Gap-we
barely checked up at Craigsvil1e-we sighted
Goshen, and fingered not at Millboro, and ere.
| long our whistle announced our approach tc
/ Clifton Forge. Here another coach the ninth
| full of men and women, girls and boys, was
waiting to be linked to our already unusually
long train. By actual count, just before get
| ting to the last named place, there were on
! board, as handed to your reporter on a strip
of paper eight hundred and eight souls. The
Clifton Forge contingent, numbered thirty
five all told, SO that we left the junction with
eight hundred and fifty-three persons, going
to the White Sulphur on that day. True as
STEEL with a heart full of warmth, and keeping
up his spirits by drinking now and then from
the clear mountain streams, grand old So. with
undaunted front moved forward, going up and
up all the time, with his increasing load be-
hind him, until Covington was scored, and
Low Moor soon reached. Since leaving the
junction however, 1t became apparent to every
one, that the grade was getting heavier and
heavier, and as we plunged into the darkness
of the first of the tunnels, that In tervene
between Staunton and the White Sulphur.
a grave apprehension went round that the
faithful iron hero, upon whom everything
pertaining to our trip depended, would have
to succumb once more to the inevitable decree
of the fates. And SO it came to pass.
Just before entering Lewis Tunnel, we had
the pleasure OF another and longer pause, in
the journey of hot Midsummer day. For
tunaJely the best of humor prevailed on all
sides, and all the time. Every one seemed to
have taken from home on that eventful morn
ing, good stock of patience. Jokes were
cracked with q vim, witticism with its keen
relish, passed around, and the unavoidable
discomforts of the surroundings. were at least
in measure forgotten. Sudden as the shrek
of the Eagle when swooping upon his prey,
the loud scream of an approaching engine
rearward, announced, that aid for its much
belabored mate, was again at hand. Tackling
to as in the former instance, pull before. and
a push behind. hurried us through the mile of
darkness just ahead, when soon after Alle-
ghany station with its seven-eights of a mile
of darkness was also cleared. We then glided
through the seventh and least of these tunnels,
and precisely at half past twelve, after six
and one half hours ride, nearly nine hundred
human beings, of all ages, sexes and Sizes
broke for the beautiful lawn and shade just
T.. r.--- IL ia -
in fancy miniature, the sun and sand stricken
caravan, rushing from the terrific heat and
dust of the desert, in to the delightful embrace
of the evergreen Oasis.
Soon, indeed, the exposed dainties and dell
cacies OF many households held out a tempta-
ton to the inner man. as rare, the first touch
of the refreshing shade was the outer man.
The vigorous attack all along the line that de-
molished these heaps Of good things, I leave
Mr.. E. to the Imagination of you and your
readers. 1t can but be poorly described, it can
well be conjectured.
Your reporter dined, right royalty too, with
perhaps the Oldest Individual ofour party, who
remarked that 50 years ago. he hauled a load of
whlskey to these Springs. He also pointed to
Certain placesin the grounds. which then, COW
cred with wild native growth. now have excel
lent buildings upon them. The White Sulphur
is Justly a noted watering place. This was our
first visit to it. We scanned, but could not fully
take in some of its prime features. Nature in
her most sympathetic mood. wishing to confer
a lasting and priceless boon, alike upon her
pleasure and health seeking children, set apart
and reserved, where only she could, this snug
and remarkable retreat, for the intolerable ills
of infirmity, and from the ceaseless, corroding
and oppressive cares Of business, incident to-,
and inseparable from, our stay here upon earth,
These strongly impregnated mineral Springs.
so beneficial to poisoned systems generally, and
to stomach disorders especially in their count
less shapes and forms, their thousandicauses are
hemmed in on every side, by tall mountain
peaks of ruggedest aspect, thereby, furnishing
as such attitudes and surroundings only can,
perfectly pure air, the first element of general
health and thus these two chief sources-pure
air and pure water, which can never by any
possibility be contamined, combine to reno
yate the system, often to restore speedy health
and strength to every form of bodily prostra-
tion.
And:then, removed from the farthest round
of business, we there swallowed up in ease, in
voluntarily forget what wears out the mind.
and of necessity, desist, from what wastes away
the body. In her day of luxury and plenty
this was the great rendezvous for the wealth
and refinement of the South.
Long before six o'clock, the train OF cars thai
brought us up. were re-filled to overlooking. Thu
five and one.half hours stay. had SO rested GU
C ompany, that when the train started home
ward, no one seemed to be dissatisfied. even
those left to stand wore cheerful faces.
We can not recall a time, when under simila
circumstances, there were present 30 many as
siduous for the comfort of others, nor so man.
who seemed to be unmindful of their own in
oonveniences.
Take it all in oil, 1t was day and an occa
sion, that we neither will, nor wish to forget
Our seeming mishaps were happily turned int
good account. But for our detentions and de
| lays, we would not have had SO fine an oppor
tunity to see the many wild and weird scenes
that stand ready to greet the passer by, alon
| the great trunk line of the G. q 0. Il. Il. Jus
here, it is due those who had the management
of the trip to say. that they did not expect t
| fill but seven instead of nine coaches. an
hence, there was foreseen no necessity for al
| appine which could easily have bee